Ever since that night at the stargazing villa, the two of them hadn’t slept together again. They were both far too susceptible to each other’s teasing—one spark was enough to set them ablaze.

Although Gu Zhan still hadn’t fully recovered his strength, Fu Yan could feel an unusual passion and abandon in him. Perhaps it was because Gu Zhan had finally let go of the knot in his heart and needed a fierce, uninhibited ritual to bid farewell to the past and march toward the future. They always tangled together, lingering in intimacy.

It wasn’t until Monday morning, after showering the still-sleeping man in his arms with kisses and embraces, that Fu Yan reluctantly climbed out of Gu Zhan’s bed.

After a quick wash-up, he went downstairs to buy breakfast, brought it back upstairs for Gu Zhan, then crossed the street to his own apartment. There, he straightened his appearance and prepared to greet the new week in high spirits.

The man reflected in the full-length mirror wore a perfectly tailored suit, with a neatly folded pocket square tucked into his breast pocket. It was Fu Yan’s usual attire, yet somehow the aura around him felt different.

Studying himself for a moment, he touched his chin and hooked a finger at the smile that refused to stay down.

Then he burst out laughing.

This time, he was laughing at himself.

He was acting like a teenager in first love, constantly replaying memories and indulging in daydreams.

Perhaps it was because Gu Zhan was so different from the type he usually liked.

Well, not entirely different.

On the surface, Gu Zhan was strong and commanding—the President Gu who could stir up storms in the business world. But in private, he could be confused, helpless, and vulnerable enough to need someone standing behind him as support when he lost his way.

Fu Yan treasured that feeling.

It was as though everyone else could only see steel walls, while he alone had glimpsed the flesh-and-blood person beneath them.

That vulnerability, visible only to him, awakened a powerful protective instinct. It made him feel as though this person belonged solely to him, like some priceless treasure he had secretly hidden away.

Even if, as far as Gu Zhan was concerned, Fu Yan was probably still nothing more than a compatible bed partner.

But that was fine.

Fu Yan enjoyed this feeling of gradually claiming his prey, step by step. He never knew what unexpected reaction would come next. He looked forward to Gu Zhan’s struggles while worrying about his resistance. It was thrilling and exhilarating.

Over the following weeks, Fu Yan naturally began showing up at Gu Zhan’s home every Friday evening, shamelessly carrying groceries and good wine.

Gu Zhan was actually a capable cook, but if someone else was willing to do the work, he saw no reason to object.

After enjoying a satisfying meal together, they sometimes watched movies quietly. Other times, Fu Yan dragged Gu Zhan into watching sports games.

In the past, Gu Zhan had never cared much for sports. He had neither the time nor the interest. But after watching several games with Fu Yan, he gradually came to appreciate their passion and intensity.

Of course, what he liked even more was sleeping with Fu Yan.

Elegant, witty, and exceptionally skilled at flirting, Fu Yan was practically the perfect lover.

Gu Zhan loved possessing such a mature and flawless man—and being possessed by him in return.

Fu Yan felt the same way.

Every Friday after work, he would rush over eagerly, then linger until Monday morning before reluctantly leaving.

Good food, satisfying desire, relaxation, and companionship.

Like a couple deeply in love, they immersed themselves in the simple beauty of their weekends together.

Since establishing this regular arrangement, Gu Zhan had completely lost interest in seeking out other partners.

No one had ever given him an experience as intoxicating and satisfying as Fu Yan.

Within days, every corner of his three-bedroom apartment had been explored by the two of them.

It was as though they possessed endless passion.

For the first time in his life, Gu Zhan was freely and wholeheartedly enjoying his sexuality, feeling as though he had suddenly become ten years younger.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

Monday morning.

Gu Zhan strode into the Slungshot executive offices in high spirits.

His handcrafted leather shoes clicked lightly against the polished floor, like the notes of a pleasant melody.

Xiao Chen entered carrying documents and efficiently delivered her usual report on his schedule for the day.

After listening, Gu Zhan nodded with a faint smile.

Holy crap.

That was all Xiao Chen could think.

Recently, her boss had been working around the clock like a madman, dragging everyone else down with him. Worse still, he’d been irritable as a lit firecracker, exploding at people without warning.

The entire company had been shrouded in gloom.

Yet today...

President Gu was smiling again.

Was this what people meant by global warming melting glaciers?

“Why are you standing there staring?” Gu Zhan glanced at her.

His tone wasn’t critical. Instead, it carried an unusual gentleness.

“If there’s nothing else, you can get back to work.”

“O-Okay.”

Xiao Chen snapped out of her daze, then suddenly remembered something.

“President Liu from Dingshen sent over a stack of tickets for a sports game.”

People frequently sent gifts in hopes of curry favor with President Gu.

But based on everything Xiao Chen knew, this particular gift had missed the mark.

Gu Zhan had never cared for sports.

Sure enough, he replied casually:

“As usual, distribute them to everyone.”

“Understood.”

She turned to leave.

“Wait.”

Gu Zhan paused, fingers resting on his folder.

“Leave two tickets for me.”

“Huh?”

Young and naturally curious, Xiao Chen’s gossip instincts immediately flared to life.

Her eyes widened as she cautiously probed:

“President Gu... are you dating someone?”

“Xiao Chen, do you have too much free time?”

The warmth on Gu Zhan’s face slowly vanished.

She nearly jumped out of her skin.

“N-No! President Gu! I’ll get back to work right away!”

She practically fled.

“Wait.”

He stopped her again.

After a brief hesitation, he added:

“Make sure they’re seats in a corner.”

Xiao Chen stiffened.

Corner seats?

Was he trying not to be seen?

A secret relationship?

The curiosity in her mind began to nag her.

But she didn’t dare ask further.

━━━━⊱⋆⊰━━━━

Over the next week, Xiao Chen’s observations continued.

She concluded that her boss’s mood throughout the workweek followed a strange upward-opening parabola.

From Monday to Wednesday, his mood visibly declined.

On Monday he smiled at everyone.

By Wednesday project meetings, he looked annoyed by everyone.

Yet in the latter half of the week, his steps became mysteriously light again.

Sometimes he looked as though he might start whistling while walking.

The strangest incident happened on Friday evening.

An old friend and business associate called to invite Gu Zhan to dinner.

Xiao Chen knew this man well. He and Gu Zhan had worked together many times.

Ordinarily, unless something unusual came up, Gu Zhan always accepted such invitations.

After all, he was a notorious workaholic who often spent weekends in the office.

Friday nights were no exception.

Assuming it was merely a formality, Xiao Chen transferred the call.

To her surprise, Gu Zhan immediately said:

“I can’t make it.”

Confused, she asked:

“Then... how should I respond?”

Suddenly adopting the manner of a dramatic actor, Gu Zhan said weakly:

“I... I’m feeling a little dizzy.”

“President Gu! Are you alright? Should I have the driver take you to the hospital?”

“No need. I’ll be fine after some sleep. Just return the call.”

“Okay...”

She relayed his regrets to the caller.

A few minutes later, Gu Zhan’s phone rang.

He glanced at the screen, and his lips instinctively curved upward.

“Hello, Fu Yan?”

“Mm. Have you gotten off work yet?”

“I’m leaving now. I’ll be home within twenty minutes.”

Fu Yan clearly heard the anticipation and delight in his voice.

Unfortunately, he had bad news.

“I called because I have an important business engagement tonight that I can’t avoid, so...”

“That’s fine. Will you come tomorrow?”

There was an apologetic note in Fu Yan’s voice.

“We have an internal executive meeting this weekend. It’s the end of the year, so things are busy.”

“Alright.”

Gu Zhan hung up.

The smile froze on his face.

What exactly was he doing?

Had he completely lost his mind?

Instead of focusing on work, he spent his days anticipating and reminiscing.

Fu Yan was just a sex partner.

Was he really worth all this distraction?

They were both successful adults with careers—not reckless youths with nothing better to do.

This behavior was becoming ridiculous.

It wasn’t like President Gu at all.

Immediately, he called Xiao Chen.

“I’ll go tonight after all.”

“President Gu? Your dizziness is gone?”

Gu Zhan blinked helplessly.

“It... suddenly disappeared.”

After that, he threw himself back into work, determined not to let his thoughts wander.

The year-end workload at Slungshot was indeed enormous.

Meanwhile, it was as though Fu Yan had silently reached the same conclusion.

He noticeably reduced the frequency of his visits.

Somehow, their relationship skipped directly from a “honeymoon phase” into a “cold phase.”

After two consecutive Fridays without seeing him, Gu Zhan finally called.

The apartment was dark when he arrived home.

The ringing tone echoed heavily through the silence.

“Hello?”

Fu Yan answered.

“Mm, Fu Yan...”

The call connected, and suddenly Gu Zhan couldn’t remember what he had intended to say.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nothing important. I just got home after working late.”

He paused.

“Haven’t eaten dinner yet.”

“You still haven’t eaten?”

A brief silence followed.

Gu Zhan imagined Fu Yan checking his watch.

“It’s almost nine. You’re working too hard. Take care of yourself.”

“It’s year-end. Everyone’s busy.”

He collapsed onto the sofa and stretched his neck.

“I’m exhausted. Don’t even want to move.”

“By the way, where did you buy that rice you used for the porridge last time? It was really fragrant.”

“From the supermarket downstairs from your apartment.”

Fu Yan laughed.

Then Gu Zhan heard noise in the background—voices, laughter, clinking glasses.

It faded quickly, as though someone had opened and closed a door.

“President Fu—”

A sweet male voice suddenly drifted through the phone.

Fu Yan softly shushed the speaker, apparently finding him disruptive.

Unlike Gu Zhan, Fu Yan never concealed his preferences.

Rumors about the Fu family heir’s orientation circulated throughout the business world.

No one dared spread them openly, but everyone understood.

People neither mocked him nor challenged him.

Some even tried to cater to his tastes.

Gu Zhan understood perfectly well that such social entertainment was commonplace.

Yet hearing that soft, coquettish voice still made him frown.

He wasn’t even sure why it bothered him.

“So... what about those noodles?”

Pretending he had heard nothing, he continued speaking normally.

“The Korean instant noodles in your cabinet.”

Fu Yan chuckled.

“You bought them yourself. Don’t tell me you forgot?”

“Oh.”

Gu Zhan nodded.

“So how do I cook them? The instructions are all in Korean. I can’t read them.”

Patiently, Fu Yan explained:

“It’s simple. First boil the water, then add the noodles...”

His voice was pleasant and unhurried.

Even something as mundane as explaining a recipe sounded soothing, capable of calming a person after a long day.

Listening to him, Gu Zhan gradually became absorbed.

Then, as though possessed by some impulse, he interrupted:

“Could you come over and cook them for me?”